EPA says Westerly quarry violated Clean Air Act

WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) -- Federal officials say the operator of a Westerly stone quarry that area residents have been complaining about has violated provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The Westerly Sun reports that the Environmental Protection Agency recently issued an administrative order to Copar Quarries outlining the alleged violations.

Residents in Westerly and Charlestown say they're concerned about the health effects of dust they believe is coming from the quarry.

The EPA says the company failed to perform tests to determine how much dust is generated at the facility. The agency also says Copar failed to notify federal and state environmental officials of the startup of its operations.

A Copar lawyer says the EPA order is a "preliminary step in an administrative process" and doesn't mean quarry operations are damaging the environment.